Saturday, May 2, 2009

Farewell, School Lunch

I cannot believe it, but my youngest is about finished with the elementary school experience. Hello junior high! I approach this with mixed feelings and so does my youngest.

One of my favorite things to do over all my kids' elementary school years is to meet them for school lunch once each week. I would pick "pizza day", the day when a pizza business would supply the day's lunch. I would get lunch and eat it with my kids. Lately, I have foregone purchasing an actual lunch but show up at lunchtime and visit. I meet their friends and we laugh, tease and talk. I have loved it. My kids' friends all know me and greet me when I see them. I learn about their lives too. I know my kids have loved it because I see how their faces would light up when we met up in the lunchroom. I have been doing this for twelve years.

At the end of elementary school, I have asked each of my kids if they would like me to continue to come for lunch, but at the junior high. Each has thought that maybe it is time for solo lunch eating. I wonder why? I am sure junior high lunchrooms are packed with mothers eating lunch with their children. If they are not, they should be. However, I will honor my growing kid's request, not attend junior high lunch and quietly mourn the passing of school lunch day. But I still reserve the right to show up if I am bringing lunch from a cool restaurant.

3 comments:

  1. It sure is hard having them grow up

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  2. I never thought of staying for lunch! I take Avarie out to lunch every monday. She's in middle school now, and this is still acceptable. She especially likes to show up back at school with ice cream or something else good we've picked up.

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  3. I may have to try the eating out thing :) sounds like a "win-win".

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